Selfie Point controversy: Congress accuses PM Modi of ‘political gimmick’ over Selfie Point mandate

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New Delhi: In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress party accused him of resorting to political ploys by directing the University Grants Commission (UGC) to set up selfie points in all universities. The party alleged that the move was a desperate attempt by Modi to boost his weak image ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, according to a report by news agency IANS.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh attacks Prime Minister Modi

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The Congress leader told the government, “First, the army was asked to set up selfie points. He then asked IAS officers and other senior government officials to eliminate ‘Rath Yatras’. Now he has directed UGC to set up selfie points in all universities.”

Ramesh claimed that he had earlier hijacked the landing of Chandrayaan-III by appearing on the live feed.

“Before that, he put his face on all COVID-19 vaccine certificates. These are just a few examples and they reflect the man’s enormous insecurities and the sickening sycophancy around him,” he said.

“At the end of a decade, the people of India are frankly sick and tired of this obnoxious level of self-promotion surpassed only by North Korean dictators. The people will give a befitting reply very soon,” the Rajya Sabha MP said.

University Grant Commission request to universities

His comments came after the University Grant Commission (UGC) on Friday asked all colleges in Delhi to set up selfie points on their respective campuses. The Ministry of Education has approved the designs for these selfie points. According to UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar, this initiative has been taken to create awareness among the youth about India’s achievements in areas like space exploration, sports excellence, infrastructure development, women-led development, etc.

Sustainable rural development, information technology, digital connectivity and much more can be showcased through these selfie points, he added. The UGC said the selfie points will not only serve as a source of pride but also educate every citizen about the transformative initiatives that have fueled India’s growth on the global stage. A letter regarding this count was sent to the principals of all 53 colleges in Delhi on November 15, asking them to set up selfie points on their respective campuses, Kumar added.

(With input from agencies)